By AVA TURNQUEST
Tribune Staff Reporter
aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
THE Free National Movement is scheduled to host a memorial track and field classic for the late Charles Maynard next month.
Participants will get an opportunity to race against party politicians, most notably the leader Hubert Minnis and deputy leader Loretta Butler-Turner, at the event that will also commemorate the 21st anniversary of the party’s first electoral victory in 1992.
“Charles Maynard was a very passionate person about everything sports and everything cultural, so we’ve made this track and field classic not just about track and field, but about our culture, how we play, how we recreate, said event coordinator Shonnel Ferguson. “Charles Maynard made sacrifices, and others before him made sacrifices to make this country and bring us forward to the place where we are today. We want to honour them,” she said. “So in addition to traditional track and field events like 100 metres, 200 metres, and the relay, we have got some interesting things.”
Also coordinating the event is Insley Mitchell, a community activist and businessman.
The classic will feature childhood games such as the wheel barrow race, the horse and carriage race, hula-hoop races, croker sack race and tug of war, according to Ms Ferguson, who said all events will be named after historic Bahamian figures.
“So we have things like the Dame Ivy Dumont 50 metre race, the Hubert Ingraham 4x100 metre relay. We have the catch the leader. My leader says he can run so we have people to see if they can catch them. Our deputy leader is fast, so we have catch the deputy race,” said Ferguson.
“These are people that we will not forget that we must not forget. This day will be in honour of them, and in honour of Charles Maynard,” she added.
As part of the party’s annual Family Fun Day, the track and field classic will be held at the old Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium on August 17.
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